Introducing myself

[gigem]

Oct 27, 2015 21:45:48 GMT -5 kaybee85 said:

Hi gigem and azure, I just realized I hadn't checked back in a while. Sorry for taking so long to respond.

I haven't gotten a ton of new information. What I know now is that we are definitely moving and that they are not giving money to move. The guy in charge said he is going to see if my husband can get a salary increase to offset, but we aren't counting on it. (He's working for a national lab, not an academic institution exactly, so from what we can tell they are quite stringent about sticking with whatever matrix they use).

Something you should think about from the start also is that many apartments in france are rented without appliances. So you would have to buy used or new applicances. Ive had places w just an oven (no fridge no washer no dishwasher) or places w only a fridge but nothig else. U can buy used looking at leboncoin is a good option.

Not sure if you would find this strange but many people dont buy dryers in france. Where you are going there is lots of sunshine so you can just hang stuff outside to dry (or a laundry mat for sheets if you are in a small apt).

Regarding shipping a crate.... Another option is bringing extra suitcases on the plane. $1500 would buy a whole lot of stuff at ikea that you can sell when you move again in a few years.

[kaybee85]

Nov 4, 2015 9:01:36 GMT -5 gigem said:

Oct 27, 2015 21:45:48 GMT -5 kaybee85 said:

Hi gigem and azure, I just realized I hadn't checked back in a while. Sorry for taking so long to respond.

I haven't gotten a ton of new information. What I know now is that we are definitely moving and that they are not giving money to move. The guy in charge said he is going to see if my husband can get a salary increase to offset, but we aren't counting on it. (He's working for a national lab, not an academic institution exactly, so from what we can tell they are quite stringent about sticking with whatever matrix they use).

Something you should think about from the start also is that many apartments in france are rented without appliances. So you would have to buy used or new applicances. Ive had places w just an oven (no fridge no washer no dishwasher) or places w only a fridge but nothig else. U can buy used looking at leboncoin is a good option.

Not sure if you would find this strange but many people dont buy dryers in france. Where you are going there is lots of sunshine so you can just hang stuff outside to dry (or a laundry mat for sheets if you are in a small apt).

Regarding shipping a crate.... Another option is bringing extra suitcases on the plane. $1500 would buy a whole lot of stuff at ikea that you can sell when you move again in a few years.

I'm starting to lean the way of paying for extra luggage and leaving the rest.

[pittpurple]

I genuinely don't think shipping a crate is worth it for such a short stay. It took us 9 years to get organised enough for a crate shipment and it was only once we bought a house. Most of what we shipped was sentimental. I would definitely suggest just buying whatever you need once you find a place and know what your kitchen looks like, etc.

[kaybee85]

Nov 4, 2015 12:26:49 GMT -5 pittpurple said:

I genuinely don't think shipping a crate is worth it for such a short stay. It took us 9 years to get organised enough for a crate shipment and it was only once we bought a house. Most of what we shipped was sentimental. I would definitely suggest just buying whatever you need once you find a place and know what your kitchen looks like, etc.

I was worried about cost of storage units (we don't have family with free storage), but that is less than 3,000 for the time we're gone.

[gigem]

kaybee85,hey there i was just thinking about this thread which was several months back- did you ever sort out your moving plans and if you were going to ship things etc etc? maybe you have already moved, hope it was an easy transition- i would love to hear how you like Toulouse!

[kaybee85]

gigem, Thanks for checking in! We are moving to Toulouse 2/11 (!...!!?) lol

We decided not to ship anything, so we got a small storage unit that will hold sentimental items/hard to replace/expensive to replace items. We are taking whatever we can fit in ~4 suitcases.

[gigem]

Feb 1, 2016 6:48:57 GMT -5 kaybee85 said:

gigem , Thanks for checking in! We are moving to Toulouse 2/11 (!...!!?) lol

We decided not to ship anything, so we got a small storage unit that will hold sentimental items/hard to replace/expensive to replace items. We are taking whatever we can fit in ~4 suitcases.

good luck! such an exciting adventure, let us know how you like it! 

[gimbal]

kaybee85, at the risk of sounding super creepy, I've been living in the suburbs of Toulouse with my husband and kids for a few months now. The time when we were getting settled was incredibly stressful, but now we're so happy to be here. Feel free to PM me.

[kaybee85]

Feb 4, 2016 4:13:25 GMT -5 gimbal said:

kaybee85, at the risk of sounding super creepy, I've been living in the suburbs of Toulouse with my husband and kids for a few months now. The time when we were getting settled was incredibly stressful, but now we're so happy to be here. Feel free to PM me.

Not creepy! Thanks

[gimbal]

I'm glad I don't sound like a complete creep. Just let me know with anything you might need help with. If you PM me, I can give you my cell number for once you're here. Do you have a rental yet? Will it be ready when you get here? Is it furnished? Does it come with appliances?